The National Garden Scheme
The National Garden Scheme was started in 1927
to raise funds for District Nurses pensions and as a memorial to Queen Alexander
who had a great interest in District Nursing. At that time about 600 private
gardens were opened to the public and in 2002 over 3,500 will be open.
The N.G.S is now an independent Charitable Trust. Part of the proceeds raised
goes to help nurses who need financial or other assistance, but the largest
share goes to Macmillan Cancer Relief to train nurses in the care of terminally
ill patients. The National Trust receives an annual sum for the training of
young gardeners and for the restoration and preservation of historic gardens.
The N.G.S also supports Marie Curie Cancer Care, Help and Hospices and the
Gardeners Benevolent Society and Orphan Funds. In 2001 the total raised was over
£1.5m and in Dorset over £51,000 was raised by the garden owners.
A listing of all gardens open during the year is
available in The National Garden Scheme "Yellow Book" Gardens of
England and Wales Open for Charity, available at most newsagents.
There is also a website at www.ngs.org
where you can browse through the Gardens.